Elephant & Piggie’s “We are in a Play!”

Script and Lyrics by MO WILLEMS

Music by DEBORAH WICKS LA PUMA

Performances are October 12-27, 2024 at 10:30am and 2pm, Saturdays and Sundays.

Run Time is 1 hour with a 10 minute intermission.

This show is wonderful for all ages, but best for ages 18 months and up.

About the Show…

Full Synopsis

Gerald and Piggie are best friends and know that, whatever they do together today, they will have fun ("Lucky to See You"). Gerald does worry briefly that something may happen to ruin their friendship, but Piggie assures him that that won't happen.

Piggie announces that she is excited because she has no idea what is going to happen today; she implores Gerald to think of the possibilities – anything could happen! They decide that they could skip, they could play ping pong or they could wear silly hats. It occurs to Piggie and Gerald that they can actually skip, play ping pong and wear silly hats all at the same time – so they use their imaginations to do that.

Dog arrives with an envelope for Piggie. The Squirelles have invited Piggie to a party, and she can bring a friend, so she invites Gerald. However, Piggie finds herself in a predicament – she's never been to a party. Fortunately, parties are Gerald's job; he knows parties. First, he speculates that it may be a fancy party and he dresses in an elegant outfit, including top hat, bow tie and cane. As Piggie attempts to follow suit, Gerald quickly changes his mind. When Piggie reappears in her fancy attire, Gerald has already dashed off to get his swimsuit and inner tube, because it may be a pool party. Piggie hurries to keep up, rushing to get her scuba goggles and snorkel, only to find that Gerald has returned with a mask, as well. What if it's a fancy, costume, pool party? Exasperated, Piggie grabs a cowboy hat and is ready to go.

The Squirrelles arrive in their fancy, pool, costume outfits and Piggie confirms that Gerald was right – he does know parties. Piggie, Gerald and the Squirelles get the party started; however, a problem arises – everyone begins to dance, and Gerald is not a dancer. With Pigggy and the Squirelles' encouragement, Gerald finds his dance moves ("Swimmy! Fancy!").

After declaring this the best party to which she's ever been, Piggie wants to show Gerald how much she appreciates his help with getting ready. She pulls out her trumpet and makes a horrible noise. Gerald and the Squirrelles do not know what to say. Piggie gives one more blast as the Squirrelles slowly back away, and Gerald is left, having to tell her what he thinks of her playing. He explains that, while her trumpet is loud and shiny, and she holds it very well, she did not play music. Piggie responds that actually she wasn't trying to play music, she was trying to say thank you... in elephant. Gerald understands and helps her with her accent. Overwhelmed with affection for each other, they get into a "Best-Off" to determine which one thinks the other is best.

Piggie tells Gerald that he has to go, and she can't believe it. He passionately begs her to stay ("Don't Go"). Only after his reverie does she reveal that what she meant was that she has to go potty. When she leaves, Penguin arrives and gives Gerald ice cream. Gerald then has another crisis. He loves ice cream and wants to eat it immediately, but he also knows that Piggie loves ice cream, and the right thing to do is to wait for her and share it. The Squirelles arrive, and Gerald tells them proudly that he plans to share with Piggie and be the Ice Cream Hero, a decision that they support ("Ice Cream Hero"). Gerald gets so caught up in his plan to be the Ice Cream Hero that he doesn't realize that his ice cream has melted. Just as he is mourning his loss, Piggie arrives with her own ice cream... which she shares with Gerald.

After they finish their ice cream, Piggie excitedly shows Gerald her new toy. Gerald wants to see it but, before he can, Piggie explains why it is so important to her. Although she doesn't know what it does, she knows that she loves it ("Ode to Toy"). Gerald supposes that it is a throwing toy, and, when she gives it to him, he throws it high into the air. Suddenly, Gerald, Piggie and the Squirelles realize that the toy is coming down at a very fast speed. As the toy hits the ground, it breaks in two. Piggie is heartbroken and furious at Gerald for breaking her toy. She lays into him while Gerald apologizes, devastated at hurting his friend ("Toy Breaker").

Piggie and Gerald see no way to repair the rift between them. The Squirelles, however, notice something about the toy – it is a snap-and-break toy; they easily put it back together. Now, Piggie is embarrassed, and Gerald is hurt. While Gerald decides whether he wants to play with Piggie or whether he wants her to leave, she convinces him that he is more important to her than any toy ("Elephant in the Room"). Gerald accepts her apology.

Suddenly, Piggie and Gerald realize that they are being watched. In fact, they see an entire audience. The Squirelles enter as Gerald explains the situation. They realize that they are in a play. The cool thing about being in a play is that they can make the audience do things. They make the audience clap, repeat words and dance. Piggie, Gerald and the Squirelles encourage grownups and kids alike to groove with them ("We're in a Play").

Piggie asks Gerald what else he wants to do before the play ends. Gerald's mind is blown by the idea that the play is ending. They ask the stage manager how many pages they have left; there are only four. Gerald starts to panic – what will they do when the play ends? Piggie calms him down. No matter what happens, they'll still have each other ("We'll Be Friends").

They reach "the end," and nothing changes; the lights come back on, and Piggie and Gerald are still onstage. The Squirrelles applaud their performances heartily. Piggie and Gerald are overjoyed to still be there but they have no idea what to say since there is no more script. Piggie suggests that they just make it up – they can do anything. Gerald suggests that they skip and play ping-pong while wearing silly hats. Piggie, Gerald and The Squirrelles agree that they've all had a fantastic time ("We've Been Lucky").